10 Basic Embroidery Stitches For Embroidery Beginners

I never had the patience for embroidery when I was younger. My Gran (who half taught me to sew along with my Mum) was big on embroidery, and used to hand embroider her hankies, skirts and her blouses, but I never saw the fun when the process looked so slow.

Now that I’m older – and some would say wiser! – I really wish I had taken the time to learn more about the basic embroidery stitches used in sewing while she was alive to teach me. Seems like a wasted opportunity with hindsight doesn’t it?

And that is why I’m sharing this post with you today. More and more of us are turning to refashioning our existing clothing as a way to be more sustainable, so I thought it made sense to share the 10 basic embroidery stitches with you so that you have them up your sleeve for when you want to add a little pizazz to clothes that you’re refashioning.

For those who don’t know much about it, embroidery is a way of decorating fabric using various colored threads or yarn and a needle. It is a technique that is very versatile and can be seen in a wide range of clothes and accessories. It is also longstanding staple of the fashion industry. After all, any fabric can be adorned with pearls, beads, sequins, and embroidery and when done slowly and methodically, it embroidery can be quite beautiful and costly – which is why you also see it a lot in haute couture fashion!

Embroidery as a technique has been around for some time – an understatement of the century you might say – because embroidery appeared farther back than the medieval ages. It goes way back to 30,000 B.C.

A Brief History Of Embroidery

The earliest forms of embroidery date back to the Cro-Magnon period. In the Orient and the Middle East, this technique was perceived to have been perfected as an art form. This craft was further expanded upon in 1,500 A.D. in Europe, with intricate and lavish designs incorporated into garments for the ‘higher classes’.

During this period, embroidery in clothing became a mark of a person’s social status and wealth. By the 19th century, machine-made embroidery appeared on the scene, making embroidered garments more accessible to everyone, which in turn lowered the perceived value.

Embroidery has since spread worldwide. Many cultures use embroidery to liven up their fabrics with beautiful designs. This technique can also serve a practical purpose, such as embroidering letters onto fabrics.

Essential Tools For Hand Embroidery

Of course, to do such intricate needlework, you will need the right tools for the job. There are a few essential tools that you will need if you plan to create embroidery of your own. Below are the tools that I recommend getting.

1. Needles

You will need a reliable needle. There are several types of needles that you can use, and each of them is designed for a specific use. Here’s a quick introduction to each type of embroidery needle that you will encounter along the way:

Crewel needle – this is the most basic needle type used in hand embroidery.

Tapestry needle – often used when doing counted cross stitch.

Milliner needle – aka the straw needle. This is best suited for doing wrapped stitches due to the shaft and eye being the same size.

2. Hoops and Frames

To keep the fabric stable, use an embroidery hoop. They come in plastic and wood, and when you are just getting started, you can opt for one of the cheaper ones. I recommend upgrading to higher-quality ones once you gain enough experience.

There are also variations, like the scroll frames and stretcher bars – I have inherited my mum’s, so will get a photo to add to this post.

For now, I recommend going with a hoops if you’re a newbie, as these are cheaper and easier to use.

3. Embroidery Scissors

Not to be mistaken for standard scissors or craft scissors, embroidery scissors differ with their smaller and thinner blades. Due to the blade’s thin and sharp edges, it can cut threads very precisely and efficiently.

4. Lighting and Magnification

Any needlework tends to be quite strenuous to our eyes so I do recommend investing in some decent LED lights to avoid headaches. Even if your home has a lot of natural lighting, you’ll find that more direct light from a lamp will help.

A magnifier can also improve your ability to create complex and detailed needlework. As you get more interested – and invested? – in embroidery, you can get yourself a magnifier with LED lights.

5. Organizer / Storage Box

And last of all, organizing all your tools in one storage box will make your life easier. Having all your embroidery bits and bobs to hand makes it easier and faster to get stuck in when you find some time available…

Hand Embroidery Versus Machine Embroidery

There are two ways to incorporate embroidery onto fabric; by hand or with a specialized embroidery sewing machine. Besides the obvious, what are the differences between the two methods? And why should you pick one over the other?

Hand Embroidery

Hand embroidery requires patience and skill. For some this is what makes embroidery a non-starter. But there are many hand embroiderers that will attest to how relaxing the process of embroidery can be. Also, the focus and attention required for hand embroidery can result in some beautiful work.

If you look online, you’ll also notice that hand-embroidered garments tend to have a higher value than their machine-made counterparts.

Oh, and flexibility is another advantage of hand embroidery; you can pick it up and take it around your home to work on or even outside the house!

Machine Embroidery

Convenience and speed are the primary reasons that people use machines to embroider. They allow you to input your chosen design and then you let the machine do all the work. This can be welcome if you are working on multiple items or already having trouble doing it the traditional way.

Machine embroidery will deliver consistency – this is handy if you’re making many of the same item or design. However, one of the most notable downsides is that it lacks a customization option which restricts what you can do – you can’t stop a little way in when an idea strikes and switch things up, in the way that you can with a hand embroidery project!

Now that I have convinced you of the benefit of slowing down and doing some hand embroidery, here are the basic stitches that you need to know and should start practicing!

Ten Basic Embroidery Stitches For Beginners

There are ten essential basic embroidery stitches you need to know as a beginner. Each stitch has varying difficulty, but all are essential to know (and practice)if you want to really get into embroidery!

1. Running Stitch

The most basic embroidery stitch is the running stitch. It is straightforward and is often used for outlining a design.

After securing your thread, you use your needle to go down and up through the fabric, to create a line of stitching.

2. Backstitch

We can use a backstitch to outline a design (similar to the simplicity of a running stitch). The backstitch quickly creates one continuous line on the fabric.

3. Satin Stitch

Satin stitches are used to fill in empty spaces inside the outline of a design. Think of it as the equivalent of shading or coloring a drawing.

4. Stem Stitch

The Stem stitch is a specific type of embroidery stitch. Its name is derived from its original use of creating stem or curved vine designs on the fabric. The stem stitch is also perfect for embroidering cursive letters.

5. Lazy Daisy Stitch

As the name implies, the lazy daisy stitch can create basic embroidery flower designs. It is also often used with the stem stitch to complete the floral look.

6. Split Stitch

The split stitch is similar to the backstitch but with a braided appearance.

7. Chain Stitch

This embroidery stitch requires a bit of practice, but it aims to enhance the finesse of the overall design. A chain stitch is a good option for outlining a design or pattern while adding to its aesthetic value.

8. Feather Stitch

The feather stitch is an excellent choice if you wish to cover more surface area on the fabric within a shorter period. This stitch is done by doing zigzags to create diagonal blanket stitches.

9. French Knot

The French Knot is the go-to stitch for those looking to add decorative acc. The French knot can also create flourishes in designs.

10. Woven Wheel Stitch

The slightly more complicated woven wheel stitch consists of two parts – the “spokes” and the weaving around it. The weaving is done from the center outwards, with the finished product looking like, you guessed it, a wheel.

Within garment sewing – or dressmaking – we’re very familiar with the running stitch, which we often use for basting sections together. I’ve also used the backstitch frequently when hand sewing, but the eight remaining embroidery stitches are those that I’ve only ever used when attempting to give embroidery a go.

If you’d like to really dig into learning embroidery I wrote up a post about the embroidery books I have in my collection – perhaps you’ll find one that will help you too?

How do you feel about embroidery? Have you incorporated it much into your sewing projects? Let me know in the comments below!